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Adding Fish

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Hi I am new to AC and just had a few Q's to ask. I have a 30gal high I have been cycling it with 5 Goldfish. I will not add any more fish untill I have cycled for 60 days. 1st Q. Should I take out the goldfish for any lenght of time before adding my new fish? 2nd Q. What fish should I start to introduce first? My Fish family ( I would like ) consist of 2 Angelfish (center piece), 5 Dwarf Gouramis,3 Panda corys, a Bristlenose Pleco, and maybe 2 to 3 sharks. (not sure on the sharks tho). Also plan on getting a 60 to 80 gal tank in a few years.

N0t sure if y0u mean that y0u are g0ing t0 give y0ur cycle 60 days t0 c0mplete itself 0r if y0u mean 60 days after c0mpleti0n, but cycling time can vary greatly 0n many fact0rs. Fish in cycling als0 has rather different expectati0ns than fishless cycling time wise. Cycles can die 0ff rather rapidly with0ut a s0urce 0f amm0nia (fish). I am n0t quite as well versed as many 0f 0ur very kn0wlegeable and reliable members when it c0mes t0 st0ck lists- but they will be sure t0 chime in with great advice as what will w0rk best, I kn0w this p0st wasn't a wealth 0f inf0 but, I guess I'm just trying t0 clarify what y0u meant as it will help 0thers t0 help y0u. But when the time c0mes t0 rest0ck d0 it sl0wly, a few fish at a time s0 y0ur cycle can adjust t0 the bi0 l0ad.

When I go fishing I just place a sharp rock in the water and sit there waiting for all the dead fish to float to the top... KingfisherBrutal honesty will be shown on this screen.I think my fish is adjusting well to the four gallon, He's laying on his side attempting to go to sleep on the bottom of the gravel.Tolerance is a great thing to have, so is the ability to shut up.I can explain it to you, but I can't understand it for you.

read up on how to cycle the tank, it will require less time, but much more work with fish

I highly recommend you do a fishless cycle, why buy the fish if you don't plan to keep them... plus cycling with fish is much harder

Also, on your planned stock:

2 Angels - eh not great but could be ok
5 Dwarf Gouramis - you cannot have more than 1 in this size tank, and even 1 won't play well with the angels
3 Corys - Should do at least 6
BN Pleco - good call
Sharks - No. not unless you have a MUCH larger tank already, even the smallest sharks require a tank around 90g

read up on how to cycle the tank, it will require less time, but much more work with fishYou can not place a time frame on cycling - doing it with fish in the tank takes longer because you have to keep your ammonia level at a safe level (like .25), while doing it without fish permits you to "spike" the ammonia to start growing bacteria faster - your tank is cycled when your water parameters say it's cycled and not when YOU decide you have cycled it "enough".

I highly recommend you do a fishless cycle, why buy the fish if you don't plan to keep them... plus cycling with fish is much harderI agree with this advice. Return the goldfish and get yourself some pure ammonia - will take less time and you don't have to subject the goldfish to living in a small tank like that.

Also, on your planned stock:

2 Angels - eh not great but could be ok from what I've learned here, 2 angels would only work if they were already a mated pair and you had a larger tank - 1 would work
5 Dwarf Gouramis - you cannot have more than 1 in this size tank, and even 1 won't play well with the angels
3 Corys - Should do at least 6 [COLOR="#FF0000"] -
BN Pleco - good call - I wouldn't do that many bottom dwellers in a tank that size personally
Sharks - No. not unless you have a MUCH larger tank already, even the smallest sharks require a tank around 90g

Someone already said it, but yeah the Dwarf Gourami's are territorial. I'd get 1 male. I actually bought one today for my 10 gallon. The lady at Petco, when I said I wanted 1, told me "They do better in pairs" to which I laughed and said "No...they will fight." Moral of the story, never take advice from a worker at a pet store. IDK where you came up with your original fish family list but you're doing the right thing asking for advice here. Best of luck with your cycle and stocking :)